Superluminal Medicines Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co. are collaborating in a deal to develop cardiometabolic disease and obesity therapies by aiming at undisclosed G protein-coupled receptor targets. The deal could bring Superluminal as much as $1.3 billion, including up-front and near-term investments, an equity investment, development and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales.
Eli Lilly and Co. has fallen into line with U.S. President Donald Trump’s May 12 executive order on most-favored nation pricing, announcing it will put up drug prices in Europe in order to make them lower in the U.S. In a statement on Aug. 14, the company said it supports the Trump administration’s objective of more fairly sharing costs of “breakthrough medical research” across developed countries.
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health investigated the role of the neurobeachin (NBEA) gene in predicting weight loss response to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
Indiana University Research and Technology Corp. has divulged peptides acting as dual agonists of amylin receptor and calcitonin (CALCR; CT-R) receptor and its conjugates with incretin reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity.
Superluminal Medicines Inc. has commenced IND-enabling studies for its lead program, an orally administered, highly selective, biased melanocortin MC4 receptor (MC4R) agonist initially targeting rare genetic forms of obesity and hypothalamic obesity, with potential as a treatment for general obesity in combination with GLP-1 drugs. IND submission is expected in the second half of 2026.
Incretin-based therapies have demonstrated substantial efficacy in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes but the need for frequent injections remains a major barrier to patient adherence and comfort.
Palatin Technologies Inc. has announced preclinical results for PL-7737, an oral selective melanocortin MC4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, showing effectiveness in rodent models of obesity.
GIPR/GLP-1R-targeting agents have demonstrated significant efficacy in appetite suppression and weight reduction; however, their adverse effect profiles and tolerability issues highlight the need for alternative or complementary therapeutic strategies in the management of obesity. Researchers from Juvena Therapeutics Inc. reported on the preclinical profile of JUV-112, discovered using Juvena’s proprietary JuvNET platform.
Single agonists of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) have been a success in the treatment of obesity, but monomeric dual or triple agonists have demonstrated improved efficacy on energy intake, appetite or metabolic function.
Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a peptide hormone released by intestinal L cells after food intake. It acts as a dual agonist of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucagon receptors, regulating appetite, energy expenditure and glucose metabolism. However, its short plasma half-life limits its therapeutic potential.
